Burnett deal to Pirates still on hold

TAMPA, Fla. -- There still is optimism the Yankees and Pirates eventually will agree on a trade that would send A.J. Burnett to Pittsburgh but the final sticking point remains money.

"It's probably going to come down to the last minute," said an industry source with knowledge of the talks.

Burnett has $33 million left on his contract and the Pirates, thus far, have offered to pick up only $10 million. The source said a deal could be reached if the Pirates agreed to pay in the range of $13 million-$15 million.

If nothing changes, the Yankees are prepared to have Burnett report Sunday with the rest of the team's pitchers and catchers.

The Yankees would be amenable to paying the $23 million if the Pirates included a better package of players in return, but to this point they have not done so. In other words, the better caliber of prospects the Pirates are willing to deal, the more money the Yankees are willing to absorb.

The possibility of trading Burnett -- other teams, including the Indians and Angels, also have inquired -- for the moment has pushed to the back burner the Yankees' pursuit of a designated hitter. Raul Ibañez remains the top target and Johnny Damon, though his price tag -- in the neighborhood of $3 million -- is higher than the Yankees wish to pay for a DH, is still in the mix.